Jaffer A. Ajani, MD, an internationally recognized expert on gastrointestinal cancers, is Professor of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the Chair of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology Gastroesophageal Cancers Panel. He has participated over the past 20 years in numerous trials using innovative combined modality therapies for localized gastric and esophageal cancers, and some of his work led to the development of strategies of pre-operative therapy for resectable upper gastrointestinal cancers.
His current research focus is on developing programs to research the molecular markers for progression of Barrett's metaplasia to adenocarcinoma. These research efforts involve multi-institutional collaboration with investigators at the University of Chicago, University of Pennsylvania, Mayo Clinic, and Yonsei University, in Seoul, Korea.
In addition to his work with NCCN, Dr. Ajani participates actively in the International Society of Gastrointestinal Oncology is the editor of the Society's journal, Gastrointestinal Oncology Research.